Some people believe that by month four, babies should have a solid routine and sleep or remain awake during specific times. Is this true?
Not really.
Babies do tend to have more regular sleep patterns by the time they are four months old. They may start to sleep longer at night, but take fewer and shorter naps during the daytime. But this doesn’t mean the baby is ready for a strict daily routine. It is difficult to predict when they will fall asleep during the day and how long they will sleep at night.
Sleep standards are vague, but in general, babies between four and seven months old sleep 12-16 hours a day, with at least nine hours at night. Daytime naps may add up to 4-5 hours [1].
It's difficult to be more specific. Some children at this age already sleep through the night, while others wake up several times. One baby may nap five times a day for an hour at a time, while another may take only two naps but will sleep for two hours straight. As with so many other things, sleep patterns are individual.
So for now, you'll have to adjust to your baby. The good news is that gradually, their sleep cycles will become more consistent. And soon enough, you'll be able to establish a somewhat predictable daily schedule.
